Dinghy testThe 10 inflatable boats in detail

Dinghy test: The 10 inflatable boats in detailPhoto: YACHT/Jozef Kubica
How the 10 dinghies compare. All data, all results, all ratings at a glance

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Dinghies with high-pressure floor

Osculati 240 air floor (800 Euro)

Osculati 240 air floor (800 Euro)
Photo: YACHT

The Osculati inflatable boat scores points with its large cockpit, which is only surpassed by the Talamex model. The seating position when rowing is very good. Unfortunately, with a 4 hp burner it did not quite glide. At 16 kilometres per hour it sucks in the stern. The price is fair.

Data and evaluation

yacht/osculati_4f01e0e2bce9105a8d583cfcaab4985e

Remarks

  • + Large interior
  • + Best rudder characteristics
  • + High stability
  • + Towing very good
  • - No full glide

Plastimo Fun II PI230 VB (1,517 euros)

Plastimo Fun II PI230 VB (1,517 euros)
Photo: YACHT

The integrated high-pressure V-bottom ensures good planing and clean towing, but also has disadvantages: The boat is very tippy and water collects in the cockpit. This finds its way into the dinghy in small quantities when rowing via the deeply submerged bow. The Plastimo Fun II PI230 VB is, for example available here.

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Data and evaluation

yacht/plastimo_b06822a450e06d8ddf09a18d5cdfec8f

Remarks

  • + Very good seating position
  • + Very good towing behaviour
  • + Fast gliding travel
  • - Bug dips heavily
  • - Very tippy

Seatec Aerotend 240 (1,200 euros)

Seatec Aerotend 240 (1,200 euros)
Photo: YACHT

The high-pressure V-bottom is a fixed part of the hull and works better here than on the Plastimo Fun: not so tippy, better flotation. It sails straight ahead well when rowing and can be manoeuvred perfectly. However, the straps are a little short. Very good overall result. But the price is high.

Data and evaluation

yacht/seatec_ad57caec4542923105d3113c025cce1a

Remarks

  • + Good seating position
  • + Very good towing behaviour
  • + Good motoring
  • + Practical handles
  • - Straps a little short

Talamex Comfortline TLA 250 (1,169 euros)

Talamex Comfortline TLA 250 (1,169 euros)
Photo: YACHT

The largest cockpit and the thickest hoses ensure very high stability, but also a lot of weight. This makes the Talamex dinghy feel like a larger model. It runs very well under motor, can be towed cleanly and rows excellently with larger oars (oars from Osculati). The Talamex Comfortline TLA 250 is, for example available here.

Data and evaluation

yacht/talamex_460ad91c627d6cc80354c598510e4960

Remarks

  • + Largest dinghy in the test
  • + Safe gliding travel
  • + Good rudder characteristics
  • + Quite heavy at 31 kilos
  • + Straps too small

Crazy4Boating 250 AMF (779 Euro)

Crazy4Boating 250 AMF (779 Euro)

The cockpit of the Crazy4Boating dinghy is the third largest. The dinghy is correspondingly heavy at 30 kilograms. The seating position is good and, apart from a little drift in the bends, it is easy to manoeuvre and tow cleanly. When rowing, an eyelet on the outside is a considerable hindrance.

Details and rating

yacht/yachticon_525a7fcef1169f1aaba2e6a73b4780dc

Remarks

  • + Large boat, lots of space
  • + Good seating position
  • + Good glide
  • - Quite heavy
  • - Eyelet interferes with the belt when pumping

Yamaha 240 Air (870 Euro)

Yamaha 240 Air (870 Euro)
Photo: YACHT

The 240 Air is very narrow and correspondingly tippy. The seat is too far forward and the straps are too long. As a result, you can hardly get the paddles out of the water and bump into your own knees. With 4 hp, the dinghy does not glide. The long aft tubes are striking.

Details and rating

yacht/yamaha_4aa23fe27dd25d307a351abbde99acf7

Remarks

  • + Towing very good
  • - Uncomfortable sitting position
  • - Belts too long
  • - Does not start to glide
  • - Very tippy

Dinghies with slatted floor

Plastimo Raid II P240SH (1,036 Euro)

Plastimo Raid II P240SH (1,036 Euro)
Photo: YACHT

The Raid II from Plastimo scores points for its high stability, which is achieved by the width extending to the bow. Rowing requires little effort, the seating position and swimming position are good. The slatted floor offers a secure footing thanks to the wide boards. However, there are drawbacks when towing. The Plastimo Raid II P240SH is, for example available here.

Details and rating

yacht/plastimo-raid_aaed5bcd5b424bdb50e7a44543b17f0c

Remarks

  • + Large volume (wide bow)
  • + Glides on quickly
  • + Stable stand (wide slats)
  • - Towing only satisfactory
  • - Little lateral guidance

Seatec Nemo 230 (430 Euro)

Seatec Nemo 230 (430 Euro)

The Nemo is inexpensive, small and light. However, it also has some limitations: When rowing, a lot of spray water comes over the bow, the straight-line stability is not convincing. Even under a 4 hp outboard motor, a lot of water splashes and the dinghy bucks a lot when towing. The bench seat did not hold.

Details and rating

yacht/seatec-nemo_1ca8e15bfe7a8bf919fe48f177b28f18

Remarks

  • + Small and light (21 kg)
  • + Favourable price
  • - Splash water over the bow
  • - Towing sufficient
  • - Bench seat breaks

Yamaha Tender 240 T (630 Euro)

Yamaha Tender 240 T (630 Euro)
Photo: YACHT

The Yamaha Tender 240 T is very simple and was not convincing in the test. Unsafe standing on narrow boards, great resistance when rowing, no planing possible because the transom is so high that the motor sucks in air. In addition, the transom moves significantly when accelerating.

Details and rating

yacht/yamaha-240-t_c4a99930b2e8fe05fca01182b0b9e8d8

Remarks

  • - Mirror too high
  • - Does not row well
  • - Unsafe stand
  • - No gliding possible
  • - Unsteady towing

EZ Raft (880 Euro)

EZ Raft (880 Euro)
Photo: YACHT

The EZ Raft is the exotic model in the test selection. The vehicle is extremely light and packs down spectacularly small (77 x 39 x 29 centimetres). The seating position is rather uncomfortable and there is no cockpit in the conventional sense. On the other hand, it offers high stability thanks to very large tubes, and rainwater simply runs off.

Details and rating

yacht/ez-raft_da5b3994e0984ef2624d633c43ce7803

Remarks

  • + Extremely light (11 kg)
  • + Spectacular pack size
  • + Electric pump as standard
  • - No gliding possible
  • - Curved seating position



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